User:Itemirus/sandbox

This page explains commonly used terms in aviation.

A

Absolute altitude

The measureable height of an aircraft above the actual terrain.

Accretion rate

The speed at which ice is accumulating on the flight control surfaces of an aircraft

Advanced visual docking guidance system

A system of lights to guide the crew to the correct parking position for their aircraft type.

Aileron power control unit

A hydraulically powered control which moves the ailerons on the wings.

Air data computer (ADC)

A computer functioning as a central source of information on the surrounding atmosphere and the aircraft flight through it. It provides the pressure altitude, outside air temperature, airspeed, Mach number and angle of attack data to the flight director and other systems.

Airborne collision avoidance system (ACAS)

An aircraft system using Secondary surveillance radar (SSR) transponder signals, which operates independently of ground equipment to alert the flight crew about conflicting aircraft

Airbase

A facility used by a military force for the operation of military aircraft.

Automatic braking system (ABS)

An automatic wheel-based hydraulic brake system for airplanes.

Automatic direction finder (ADF)

A navigation instrument that automatically and continuously displays the relative bearing from the ship or aircraft to a suitable radio station.

Autopilot (AP)

A computerized system which provides the flight controls with orders to maintain an aircraft on a preset course without assistance from the crew.

B

Baro inertial vertical speed (Vzbi)

The rate of change of altitude measured by detecting the change in static air pressure as altitude changes.

C

Calibrated airspeed (CAS)

The speed shown by a conventional airspeed indicator after correction for instrument error and position error.

Coffin corner

The altitude at or near which a fast fixed-wing aircraft's may incur in a dangerous high speed stall condition.

D

Distance measuring equipment (DME)

A transmitter located on an airport and providing distance information for the aircraft during approach by timing the propagation delay of VHF or UHF radio signals.

E

Electronic flight instrument system (EFIS)

A LCD display that replaces traditional instruments for providing flight, navigation and aircraft systems information, forming a so-called glass cockpit. EFIS normally consists of a primary flight display (PFD), multi-function display (MFD) and engine indicating and crew alerting system (EICAS) display.

F

Flight data recorder (FDR) or (DFDR)

An electronic device employed to record any instructions sent to any electronic systems on an aircraft; it is designed to survive crash accelerations, impacts, crushing and fire and often carry underwater transponders or beacons

G

Global positioning system (GPS)

A navigational system using orbiting satellites to determine the aircraft’s position on the Earth.